Parachute



Patented Oct. 6, 1931 vNITE!) STATES JOSEF HAMMERLE, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

PARACHUTTE Application led May 5, 1930. Serial No. 449,858.

The main object of this invention is to provide a novel parachute having means .constructed therein which will insure a certainty. of the parachutes opening within a very small period of time after the bearer of the parachute jumps from a height.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel flexible means within the umbrella of a parachute in combination with a supply of gas connected with said means and adapted to be opened into said means' so as to cause inflation of said means automat-` ically within a very short period of time after the bearer of the parachute has jumped, the inflation of said means causing immediate opening of the parachute umbrella.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in whlch characters of reference refer to like-named 20 ,parts in the drawings.

Referring briefiv to the drawings, Fig. l is an elevational view of an extended parachute equipped with the novel means men- Fig. `2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the valvecontained within the connecting tube between the gas tank and the flexible spreading means, controlling the liow of gas from the former to the latter.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of said valve taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. .D V

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of the gas tank and other controlling valves. I

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the umbrella of a parachutel attached by the usual cords 11 to a narrower base 12. A harness 13 of leather or the like, adapted to slip under the shoulders of the wearer of the parachute, is resilientljr hung from the base 12 by being attached thereto by resilient or spring wires or cables 1 A tank 15, adapted lto contain gas preferably of a lighter-than-air type, is secured to the harness 13. Flexible tubing 16, which may be of rubber, is secured at one end to the tank 15 and passesupward through the base 12, where itis secured against longitudinal movement by any suitable means; this tubing passes on upward under the umbrella 10. Secured along the peripher of the umbrella, is a flexible cylindrical tu e 18, which may be of rubber, passing entirely around the edge of the umbrella. The tubing 16 is oined '55 to said tube 18 so that both communicate with each other. A second tube 19, adjacent the tube 16, is attached to the tank 15, and similarly passes through the base 12 and upward, and is similarly connected to the tube 18.

A valve 17 is provided in the tube 16, and comprises a body 20, recessed as shown, having a threaded nipple 2l through which an axial passage extends into the recess of the body 20, indicated by the numeral 22. A cap '65 23 is threadably secured to the body 20, having a nipple, threaded also, 24, through which a similar axial passage extends, shown at 25. The nipples are adapted to receive ends of the tube 16. A rod 26, of a smaller diameter 70 than the passage 25, extends downward from the recess in the body 20, through the passage 25, down into the tank 15, and is provided with a ring 29 on its lower end to prev vent passing of the rod out of said tank. At 7 the end of the rod 26 within the recess of the body 20, the rod is attached tg la slidable valve 27, formed as shown, which is adapted to open or close the passage 22 into the recess of the body 20. A .coiled spring 28 surrounds the rod 16 between the valve 27 and' cap 23, and normally urges the valve against the passage 22 to keep said passage closed.

The tube 16 is attached to the tank 15 through a "coupling 30 which has an axial passage 31, likewise of slightly greater diameter than the rod 16. A cock 32 is provided on the tank for permitting filling of the tank with the gas. An auxiliary handoperated valve of commontype, 33, is placed in the tube line 19 for the purpose which will presently become apparent. j

The'operation and use of the invention are as follows. The parachute is folded up and the various tubes described are also folded up so that they are completely or relatively free from air, in the same 'manner as inner tubes for automobile tires when removed from the new box. When the jumper leaps from a height with the harness about him in '100 the usual manner., the immediate tendency is for the umbrella to rise above the gumper. The result of this is that the weight of the jumper will pull downward on the base 12,-

while the rising tendency of the umbrella will pull upward on said base. The resilient wires 14 connecting the harness and base 12, will allow the harness to separate a distance from the base, `thus causing a stretching of the flexible tube 16 and, because the rin 29 secured about the pin 34.prevents the r 26 from also separating from the harness and, consequently, the tank 15, the valve 17 will be opened in an obvious manner, thus allowing the light gas to pass from the tank, through tube 16, into tube 18. The latter thereby becomes inflated and tends to assume its circular outline, thereby causing the umbrella 10 to be spread. Once the umbrella has been spread, the jump is a success and the device has performed its desired function. If, however, the device does not appear to the jumper to be working, he need only open the hand valve 83 on the tank 15 in his fharness, and the gas will flow up into the tube 18 inthe same manner, rlhus this valve 33 is provided simply as an emergency precautionary measuren @bViously modifications from the abovedescribed structure may be made without degas container secured to the harness of the arachut/e, resilient means connecting the arness with the parachute, a tube connecting said container with said first-named tube, .a valve mounted in said second-named tube, and means for opening said valve comprising a rod or the like passing through said secondnamed tube and attached to said valve and said tank.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

' JOSEF HAMMERLE.

parting from 'the spirit scope of 'the Vention.

The construction and operation ofi the invention having been thus set forth, what is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with a parachute, inflatable means secured to the umbrella ci the parachute, resilient means suspending the harness of the parachute from the umbrella, a gas container secured to said harness and communicating with said inflatable means, a flexible tube providing said communication, a Valve mounted in said tube, means attached at one end to said valve and at the other end to a art of the harness, said valve being opera le by the weight ofthe wearer operating against the rising tendency of the umbrella, the result of these forces being to cause the harness to separate a distance from the umbrella, said separation being allowed by said resilient means and causing the means attached to the valve to pull upon said valve to open the same and allow gas to flow from the container into the inliatable means.

2. In combination with a parachute, a tube attached to 'the umbrella of 'the parachute, a gas container secured to the harness of the parachute, resilient means connecting the harness with the parachute, a tube connecting said container with said tiret-named tube, a valve mounted in said second-named tube, means for opening said Valve attached to said valve and to said container.

3. In combination with a parachute, a tube attached to the umbrella of the parachute, a

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